Knitting machine



Feb. 5, 1935. M. OUDIETTE KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1931 v 6 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 5, 1935. M. OUDIETTE KNITTING MACHINE s Sheeis-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1931 I /14; A g A ll WI. k

Feb. 5, 1935. M Qu 1,990,132

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1931 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. OUDIETTE KNITTING MACHINE Feb. 5, 1935.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June'l8, 1931 Feb. .5, 1 935.

M. OUDIETTE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jupe 18, 1931. 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Feb. 5, 1935. OUDIETTE 1,990,132

I KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Feb; 5, 1935 I um-ED STATES KNITTING MACHINE Maximc Qudiettc, Bomilly-sur-Scine, France In France July 3, 1930 Application June 18, 1931, Serial No. 545.28!

10 Claims.

The formation or shaping of the foot portion of a sock or stocking on a circularknitting machine consists in producing two gussets or pocket s, one of these pockets forming the heel, and the other one the "toe portion, and these pockets being separated by the sole knitted in the shape of a tube.

The method ordinarily employed for the formation of these pockets consists on a machine provided with a rotating cylinder and fixed cams, in transforming the continuous circular motion of the cylinder, into a reciprocating one, and in knitting only. on a portion of the needles of the cylinder." The number of needles in action is first reduced of a needle at each stroke, then,

after a given number of rows, the needles previously put out of action are successively reset int action. The means used up to now consist in widening and narrowing fingers, sectors and toothed discs; they allow to add to or remove from the series of needles in operation only an invariable number of needles at each action ofthese members: the narrowing fingers for instance usually raise only one needle at a time.

Other shaping methods are used for knitting the foot portions of socks or stockings on cotton fiat frames or on flat knitting machines and produce articles" much superior than those obtained on circular machines.

An object of the-present invention consists in new means allowing the application of these methods, or of similar methods, to circular knitting machines of the known type in which the needles are put out of action by raising the needle can be modified during the operation of the machine, as well as the location of these active needles in the cylinder.

According to the invention, an inclined disc movable about its axis is arranged in the path' of the butts of the needles in operation; the periphery of said disc is provided with steps the pitch of which corresponds to that of the needles of the machine, with the exception of a notched portion; each step is engaged under the butts of the successive needles which come into contact withthe disc. These needles are lifted and,"

consequently, put out of action; the disc is driven by the butts of the needles and pivots about its axis, and the butts DI the needles finally come illustrated, which carries the needles.

opposite the notch of the disc; they then pass without being lifted and remain in action.

The number "of the needles so lifted will therefore be equal to that of steps of the disc located under the path followed by the needle butts. 5

Two such discs are arranged on either side of the lock so as to be capable of 'lifting any number of needles on either side and, consequently, of maintaining in operation a definite number of continuous needles located at any chosen point. 10

Automatic control means allow of so adjusting the position of the disc that it lifts the desired number of needles, at each passage and a returning spring constantly tends to return the disc into contact with its guide.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, a, form of construction of the subjectmatter of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view.

Figs. 2 and 3 are partial elevations respectively 2 of the rear and side of the lock.

Figs. 4 to Gare views of the lifting disc, respectively in top view, side view and section.

Figs. 7to 9 are diagrammatic elevation views showing the operation of the disc.

-Figs. 10 to 12 respectively illustrate in plan I view, front elevation and side view, the control device for a levelling cam.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a link of the chain. v

Figs. 14 and 15 are developed diagrammatic views of the cylinder of the knitting machine with the members for increasing and diminishing'the number of stitches respectively in elevation and plan view. I 5

Figs. 16 and 17 are knitting diagrams of the heel and toe portions of a sock or stocking which can be obtained with the machine according to the invention.

Figs. 18 to 20 illustrate the sock respectively at 40 different stages of its manufacturing.

Fig. 21 shows the finished sock.

.Figs 22 and 23 are the knitting diagrams-of.

driving the heel and toe portions of a sock of the socalled English sole type, and I Figs. 24 and 25 respectively show the sam sock ready to be finished and finished. A lock 2, widening fingers 3, lowering cams f1 I and discs 5 are arranged tangentially to. the revolving and rocking cylinder 1 of the machine The shafts 1 6 of discs 5 are inclined relatively to the horizontal plane, and are perpendicular to the radius of the cylinder 1 of the machine which passes at the point of tangency of the disc and of the I cylinder. 5. The discs are pivotally mounted on shafts 6 and are provided with a notch '7 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) and a series of steps 8 at their periphery; the pitch of steps 8 corresponds to that of the needles onthe cylinder, account being taken of the inclinationof the disc relatively to the axis of the cylinder.

The upper face of the discs carries a removable and slightly projecting notched plate 9, internally bounded-by concentric arcs of circles having decreasingFradii lilconnected by notches 11,

having notches differently arranged. forobtaining different articles.

A coil spring 12 wound about the shaft (Fig.

5, 6) constantly tends to cause each of the discs to rotate about its shaft, for instance the rear disc in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 4).

A finger 13, the distance of which from the center of the disc is adjustable as will be explained later on, limits this movement of rotation of the disc under the action of its spring 12 by abutting against one of the notches 11 or 11'. When notch 11 is the one stopped by finger 13, notch '7 is at the level of the butts of the needles against the cylinder and therefore the disc does not act on the needles which pass through notch '7. Each of the other notches, 11', corresponds to the putting out of action of a definite number of short butt needles; one of the steps 8 on the periphery of the disc is then effectively located in the path followed by the butts of the needles; the first of said butts which arrives engages on this step and is lifted by the disc rotating about its shaft; the next' needle similarly engages on the adjacent'step, and so on up to the last step 8, whereupon the next needle enters notch '7. The needles are thus so lifted as to be put out of action and they then move off the step on which they rested.

In Fig. 7 (starting position), finger 13 has been moved towards the centre of the disc, so as to serve as an abutment for the first notch 11'; a definite number of steps will thus be placed under the path followedby the butts of the needles in operation.

The needle butts will come into contact with these steps and cause the disc to pivot about its shaft 6 until the last step 8 provided before the notch 7 haslifted the last needle which is to be put out of action. This stroke end position of the disc (Fig. 8) is invariable whatever may be the number of needles lifted."

At this moment, an abutment 56 comes in front of the notch. 11 and prevents the disc from moving'backwards under the action of its spring 12.

Said abutment is urged by a spring blade 57 mounted on a fixed stud 58.

The direction of the rocking movement of the cylinder having been reversed, an idle link of the driving chain restores finger 13 to its rest position as will be explained later on. During its downward movement finger 13 (Fig. 9) comes into engagement with abutment 56 (Fig. 9), moves it away from notch 11 and thus releases the disc, the notch 11 of which then bears on the finger13.

The device is then ready for a new selection of needles.

Finger 13 is secured in a support 15 pivotally mounted about. a shaft 16. Its movement is controlled by a rod 17 pivotally connected to a link 18; the pivot pin 19 is'prov'idedwith a roller 20, and a spring 21 constantly tends to press roller .20 against, the fork-piece links 22 of driving chain 23. The height of each of the forkpiece links of the chain is determined in view of the desirBd displacement of finger 13: a high link moves finger 13 towards the centre of disc 5. The driving drum 24 of the fork-piece links is rigid with a shaft, 25 driven in the known manner notshown. a. Y 1

Every other link of the driving chain of the disc corresponds to the rest position of the disc,

so that it does not hinder the return movement of the needles, the thrust of an active link taking placewhen the long butt needles are located above the lifting disc to be driven.

The rear disc is mounted opposite the front disc, and its link chain (not shown) is such that link of the other disc, and vice versa.

The levelling or lowering cams 4 arranged between the lock and each of the elevating discs 5 allow to reset all the needles which have been lifted by the discs into action in one operation. I

Said cams are mounted on a rocking support 26 (Figs. 1, l0, l1 and 12) controlled by a caman active link of one disc correspond to an idle shaped end 27 of a rod 28 pivoted at 29 to a link 30 pivoting about its base 31; the other camshaped end 32 of said rod is constantly pulled.

by a spring 33 into contact'with the ends 34 of pins 35 (Figsvl, 2 and 10), connecting the links 22 of the chain 23 together; said chain 23 controls thus the position of the corresponding levelling cam.

Besides these cams 4 which allow to set all the short butt needles intoaction in one operation, the machine is provided with the usual widening fingers 3, but these fingers are placed on the lock and allow to set a needle into action at each movement of the cylinder. These fingers 3 are controlled by a lever 36 (Figs. 1 and 2) rigid with a pivot pin 3'7. on which a rod 38 acts through the medium of a rod 39.

The rod 38 is pivotally connected at its other end to a rod 40 pivoted about its base 41, and a spring 42 constantly tends to press its head 43 against the ends 44 of the pins 35 of the links 22.

, Besides the long butt needles which operate only upon a circular movement of the cylinder and the short butt needles which all operate upon a reciprocating movement of same, medium butt needles are provided, these latter needles being put out of action for knitting the toe portion of the socks.

The said medium butt needles are placed on both sides of the series of long butt needles and separate the latter from the series of short butt needles; their number corresponds to the width of the selvage w of the cap piece (Fig. 18).

The only purpose of the presence of said medium butt needles is to produce a toefiportion of a sole knitted over a width smaller than that of the heel. c

For that purpose (Figs. 14 and 15), a cam 45 pivotally mounted about a spindle 46 can occupy two different angular positions (Fig. 14) respectively corresponding to the lifting and lowering is resumed, the lowering cams 4 used as in-.', dicated above.

.Fig. 14 (as well as Figs. '41- to 9i shows; the fictitious path 4'1 followed up to the lock by the butts of the needles in action, the formation of the stitches being effected in the known manner by the camsflof the lock; Fig. 14 also shows the order to lift but one needle; itis sufi'lcient to present the disc in such manner that the last step 8' alone (Figs. '1 to 9) will be immediately under the path followed by the'butts-of the needies in operation. The first needle of the series will. come into contact with the said step: and cause the disc to pivot; the latter will then present the notch 7 at the level of the butts of the needles and the latter will continue to n ov'ewithout being deviated. v

Fig. 14 simply shows the place-occupied by the various members relatively to looks 2,. namely widening fingers 3 which can beiprovided for lowering one or two needles simultaneously.

Fig. 15 similarly shows the developed lines 50 of the surface of the drum, the developed lines 51 of the butts of the short butt needles, and the developed lines 52 and 53 of the ends of the medium and long butt needles respectively. 7

Methods for, manufacturing two kinds of foot portion of socks and stockings-on a machine provided with'devices according to'the invention 240 neeof a stocking in the-usual manner, cylinder 1 is set into reciprocating motion. At this moment,

the 100 short butt needles and the 4!) medium butt needles only are in action, viz: l lo-needles. For forming the round portion of the heel (Fig. 16) a little more than half of the needles, i.--e.. 90,-are put out of action on the rightehand side of the heel which is being formed. i

For that purpose, a link of suitable height 0 the chain 23 has pushed back the roller 20 (Fig.

. 2). The height ofthis link is such that the end inder," another link of the chain 23 will act on the same members as above, so as to put only one needle out of action (by placing only the last step 8 of the reardisc 5 in the path followed by the butts of the needles in action).

The same members remaining in operation during 15 rocking motions of the cylinders (since 15 similar links successively come on roller 20'), the group of needles in action, that is'to say 140-90 -50 needles, is diminished,'upon each seriesof needles then operating.

rocking movement, of one needle on the right handside of the portion being knitted, and the result of this shaping will be the formation of a trapezoidal shaped knitted portion having 50 needles at its larger base and 35 needles at its smaller base.

The left-hand side (Fig. 16) will be a rectilinear selvedge p; the opposite side will be the portion designated by 1.

Then, the number of needles in operation will be brought uptohalf the number of the needles 1 inaction upon beginning the heel, i. e.

Since 35 needles only were in operation at the end of the knitting of the preceding. portion, it is therefore necesary to reset 35 needles into action, said needles being taken at the right of the For that purpose, the rear levelling cam ii-(Figs. 1 and 2) is pushed against the cylinder during the babkward movement of the cylinder. This displacementis obtained by moving the long end 34 of a link pin 35 (Fig. 1) underthe plate 32 of the rod 30 which transmits its movement to the earn 4 through the medium of the 'rod 28.. Since the rear cam 41's located in the path 48 followed by the butts of needles out of action (Fig. 14), it will lower the 140 needles down to the level of the path 4'7, which needles will therefore be all in working position at this moment. But, when leaving the rear cam 4, the needle butts will engage on the steps of the rear disc 5 arranged for raising needles. This raising of 70 needles is obtained through the medium of a suitable high link of chain 23, as hereinbefore explained.

The 70 needles of the left-hand portion of the series will therefore remain in action. At the- .right .of this group of needles, one again effects 5 narrowings, each of one needle, thus forming the portion m of Fig. 16..

.In order to obtain the other half of the rounded portion of the heel, the same method as above is adopted, but the widening and narrowing members arranged, at the front of the machine the come into action.

The heel is then finished, and, after a few rows p intended to be undone after the stitches have been taken up, the machine resumes its circular I motion for knitting the foot portion of the stockinss'. I

In the shaping which has justbeen described, the needles which are successively put out of action keep the stitches they have formed immediately before being put'out of action. It results therefrom that the portion 1' will join to l as shown in Figs. 16, 18, 19. The stitches situated wllLbe that indicated in Fig. 18, that is to say,-

that of a pocket 64-having its sides open- The lower edge of strip 64 of the heel portion will be.

detached from the tubular portion of the sock either by means of scissors, or by a separating thread to be pulled, and will then have the appearance shown in Fig. 19. v

The heel portion willbe closed'by taking up the stitches in the usual manner after folding lengthwise, the right-hand half 65 fitting on the left-hand half 66. The row of stitches to be transferredon the transferring hooks of the de-- vice for taking up stitches will then extend ac- -cordin'g to the curved line o'm forming the. I

' resumes its circular movement by knitting on rounded portion of the heel. 7

By again takingup stitches, the sides 1: and r of the'heel portion will be joinedto thestitches '70 under the sole (Fig. 20).

The formation of the toe portion is then effected. Upon formation of the first row of stitches to be effected during a reciprocating motion, the long and medium butts are put out of action by means of the cam 45 pushed in towards the cylinder, asindicated in full lines in Fig. 15. A- needle is raised, as in the usual knitting of the toe portion atevery rocking motion and at each end of the group of needles in operation (com-; prising only the 100 short buttnedles) For that purpose, both front and rear discs 5 are so placed that their last step 8' only is arranged in the path followed by the butts of the needles in action, by means of suitable links of the chain 23 acting through the medium of the rollers 20, rods 1'7 and fingers l3. 9

After a number of narrowings corresponding to the length of the toe portion to be obtained, a strip t to as is knitted, this strip ending into a cap piece it, near the top of the toe portion and the opposite portion of this cap piece forming the selvedge w.

For that purpose, the front lowering cam 4 again puts all the 100 short butt needles into action, and the rear disc't', raises, such a num' ber of needles on' the right-hand side of said short butt needles, that only the needles which have been raised at t and which will knit the portion 1."

- will remain in action. The portion u of the cap piece is constituted by effecting a'series of widenings by one needle 60, and then a series of narrowings by one needle 61. needle 60 are obtained by putting the front finger 3 intoaction: the end 44 of a pin 35 moving under the plate 43 of the lever 40 releases the finger 3 (urged by a coil spring) through. the medium of the rod 38, rod 39, pivot pin 37 and lever 36 (Figs. 2 and l). I

Since the finger 3 is then situated on the path 48 followed by the butts of the needles out of action, it will come into contact with the first will be changed. The inclination of the pivot pin of the finger 3 will restore the butt grasped by' this finger to the level of the pa h 47 and the needl'e will be added to thosealready in action.

The narrowing 61 are obtained in the manner already explained, by means of the rear disc 5, as for thetoe portion s-t. The cap piece, indicated by the letters s'-zy'--v, is obtained in the same manner as above: the widenings by one needle are effected by the rear finger 3, and the narrowings by one needle by the.front disc 5.'

After 3;, that is to say when the second cap piece is finished, the front lowering cam 4 lowers all the needles down to the level of the path 47 during the forward motion of the cylinder, whilst the front disc 5 puts the needles having knitted the portion 1; from the selvedge w to the,

last narrowing of 61. out of action.

During the backward motion of the cylinder, the rear disc 5 puts the needles having knitted the portion 11' out of action. At this moment, both front and rear widening fingers 3 are put in action and lower one needle at each end of the group of needles in operation at every rocking The widenings' by one motion of :the cylinder, mm the whole r the 100 needles are resetinto action.

-When the toe portion is finished, the machine all the needles of the cylinder which. are reset into action; Y

The knitting diagram of Fig. '7 will in fact appear as indicated in Figs. 18, 20 and 21: the

portion t being joined to't; s to s; u to u, and

the rows of stitches forming the cap pieces are parallel to the line of the narrowings t :c'.

The closingof the toe portion will be effected in the usual manner, with the exception that the selvedge w bounding the lower portion of the cap piece will also be placed on the transferring hooks of the device for taking stitches up;- this portion 10 joins the stitches of the medium butt needles, and the portion .67 joins the stitche 68 of the long butt needles.

An article similar to that shown in Fig. 21 is obtained when the above operations are finished.

2. Manufacture of an English sole.

The underside 73 of the foot portion (Figs. 22 and 23) is first knitted during a reciprocating motion by starting from a b c, then the usual toe portion 74 and the top '75 of the foot portion are .knitted during the same movement.

At this moment the knitting of one of the heel portions '76 begins on a group of needles immediately adjacent to the group previously in operation. The knitting begins at the bottom of .the heel portion according to line d e, and after which have beenused for the two heel portions and the top of the foot portion.

The lowerpart of the heel portion is, closed by taking up the stitches, and the junction ,of the undersicle. of the foot portion with the heel portions is closed in the samemanner, the line a b being joined to '79 of the heel portion and b c to d h.

The underside of the foot portion is joined to the top of the said foot portion by sewing in th known manner.

It will be understood that the way of carrying out the invention as well as the methods of manufacture and the knitting diagrams have been given by way of indication only and not in a limiting sense; the forms of carrying out the invention can be varied according to the machine to which it is to be applied and the most varied designs can be obtained with this device.

I claim:

1. Circular knitting machine with revolving cylinder, having on either side of the lock an inclined disc movable about its axis, steps on the periphery where a notch is provided, the spacing.

apart or these steps corresponding to that of the needles or the knitting machine,. and each step being successively placed under the butts of the needles which come in contact with the disc, for lifting the said needles, at the same time as the disc is driven by their butts andpivots until its notch is placed opposite the butts of the needles,

a returning springconstantly tending to cause the v disc to pivot in the direction'reverse to'that in which it pivots under the action of the'butts of the needles, a series of abutments arranged on the disc according to different radii and at decreasing distances from the centre, a finger cooperating with one or the other of these abutments, according to the distance separating it from the centre, for preventingfthe disc from I pivoting under the action of its returning spring,

means ilor varying the distance ,separating this finger from the centre of the disc, and means for holding the disc stationary when its not'ch is placed opposite the butts of the needles.

3. Circular knitting machine with revolving cylinder, having on either side of the lock an inclined disc movable about its axis, steps. on the periphery of each disc, exceptat one place of this periphery where a notch is provided, the spacing apart of these'steps corresponding to that of the needles of the knitting machine, and each step being successively placed under the butts of the needles which come in conta t with the disc,

. for lifting the said needles, at t e same time as the disc, isdriven by their butts and pivots until its notch is placed opposite the butts of the needles, a returning spring constantly tending to cause the disc to pivot in thedirection reverse to that in which it pivots under the-action of the butts of the needles, a series. of abutments arranged on the disc according to different radii and atdecreasing distances from the centre; a finger cooperating with one or the other of these abutments, according to the distance separating it from the centre, for preventing the disc from pivoting under the action or its returning spring, a link connected to this finger and causing it to pivot in a diametral plane of the disc, a returning spring pressing the head of this link on the links of a driving chain driven by a pivoting drum, these means, having a variable height, and means for holding the disc stationary when its notch is placed opposite. the butts of the needles.

4. Circular knitting machine with revolving cylinder, having on either side of the lock an inclined disc movable about its axis, steps on the periphery of each disc, except at one place of this periphery where a notch is provided, the spacing apart of these steps corresponding to that of the needles of the knitting machine, and each step being successively placed under the butts of the needles which come in contact with the disc, for lifting the said needles, at the same time as the disc is driven by their butts and pivots until its notch is placed opposite the butts of the needles, a returning spring constantly tend- 5 ing to cause the disc to pivot in the direction reverse to that in which it pivots under the action of the butts of the needles,- a series of abutments arranged on the disc according to different radii and at decreasing distances from the centre, a finger cooperating with one or the other of these abutments, according to the distance separating it from the centre, for preventing the disc from pivoting under the action of its returning spring,

a link connected to this finger and causing it to pivot in a diametral plane of the disc, a returning spring pressing the head of this link on the links of a driving chain driven by a pivoting drum every other link of the driving chain of each disc having such a height that the stop finger occupies the position corresponding to the position of rest of this disc, and the other link having such a height that it moves this finger in working position, an idle link of each chain corresponding to an active link of the other chain,-and means for holding the disc stationary when its notch is placed opposite the butts of the'needles.

5. Circular knitting machine with revolving, cylinder, having on either side of the lock an inclined disc movable about its axisssteps on-the peripheryof each disc, except at one place of this periphery where. a notch is provided, the

of the needles of the knitting machine,and each step being successively placed under the butts of the needles which come in contact with the disc, for lifting the said needles, at the same time spacing apart of these steps corresponding to that butts of the needles, equalizing or lowering cams arranged between the lock and the discs, for returning to operative position the needles lifted by the discs,and meansfor actuating these cams.

cylinder, having on either side of the lock an inclined'disc movable about its axis, steps on the periphery of each disc, except at one place of this periphery where a notch is provided the spacing apart of these steps corresponding to that of the needles of the knitting machine, and.

each stop being successively placed under the butts ofthe needles which come in contact with the disc, for litting the said needles, at the same time as the disc is driven by their butts and.

pivots until its notch is placed opposite the butts of the needles, means for adjustingv the initial l position of the disc, means for holding the disc stationary when its notch is placed opposite the butts of the needles, equalizing or lowering cams arranged between the lock and the discs, a rocking support on which each of these cams is mounted, a link connected to this rocking sup- Y that of the needles of the knitting machine, and

each step being successively placed under the butts of the needles which come in contact with the disc, for lifting the said needles, at the same time as the disc is driven by their butts and pivots until its notch is placed opposite the r 6 Circular knitting machine with. revolving as. v

butts oi. the needles, means for adjusting the'inim1 position of the disc, means for holding: the

disc stationary when its notch is placed opposite the butts of the needIes means for returning-to working position all the needles lifted by the disc, widening fingers placed on the lock the needles of the knitting machine, and each step being successively placed under the butts of the needles which come in contact with the disc, for lifting the said needles, at'the same time as the disc is driven by their butts and pivots until its notch is placed opposite the butts of the needles, means for adjusting the initial position of the disc, means for holding the disc stationary when its notch is placed opposite the butts of the needles, means for returning to working position all the needles lifted by the disc, widening fingers placed on the lock and such that they can move two needles to operating position at each oscillation of the cylinder -a rocking support on which each of these fingers is mounted, a link connected to this rocking support, and a. returning spring pressing the head of this link on one end of the axes of the links of a driving chain mounted on a pivoting drum.

9. Circular knitting machine with'revolving cylinder, having on either side of the lock an inclined disc movable about its axis, steps on the periphery of each disc, except at one place of 1 mm this periphery where a notch is provided, the

spacing apart of .these-.stepscorresponding to that of the needles of the knitting: machine, and

each step being successively placed unden thef butts of the needles which come in contact' with -the disc,;1.'or lifting 'the said needles, at the same time as the disc is driven by their buttsand pivots until its notch is placed opposite the butts of the needles with large butts-operating with a circular movement, needles with small butts operating with a reciprocating movement, and needles with medium butts, a cam which, on the one hand, is pivotally mounted for lifting or,

lowering the needles, and, on the other-hand,

can be moved backward or forward for acting, either only on the needles having large butts, or simultaneously on the needles having large butts and medium butts, and a cam. for restoring to working position the-needles having small and medium butts when the circular movement is resumed.

10. A circular knitting machine with a revolving cylinder, comprising a discv pivotally mcunted on its axis and having steps and a notch on its periphery, the pitch of said steps corresponding'to that of the needles or the -knitting ma-; chine, said steps and notch being so adapted that the butts of said needles will successively come into engagement with said steps and willbe lifted by them while the disc will be caused to ro'-.

tate by the needle butts engaging its steps, and

also so adapted that the needle ibutts will pass without engaging with the disc when the said notch is opposite them, and means for causing the disc to pivot and come to a selected position after the said notch has been brought opposite the needle butts.

, MAXIME OUDIET'IE. 

